Deadly helicopter crash: GCAA’s lead investigator in possession of black box data

Almost one year after the deadly helicopter crash that claimed the lives of five soldiers, crucial data from the black box has now become available.
This data has been handed over to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) lead Accident Investigator Krishnanand Ramlachana.

Guyana Times understands that the investigator, who was appointed back in December 2023 by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill to spearhead the probe, has already engaged the United States (US) National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB).
The black box, which records voices from the cockpit and flight parameters such as airspeed, altitude, vertical acceleration, and the positions of key flight controls, had been handed over NTSB for the retrieval of data following the military helicopter crash on December 6, 2023.
The tragic accident claimed the lives of Brigadier (Ret’d) Gary Beaton; Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shahoud; Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome; Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, and Sergeant Jason Khan.
Two soldiers survived the crash: Corporal Dwayne Jackson and Lieutenant Andio Crawford.

During a brief telephone interview with this publication on Monday, Minister Edghill indicated that the information from the black box is being analysed and upon completion will be added to the draft report on the accident.
“Every information that was available from the NTSB and Bell has been passed on to the investigator… The Investigators are in receipt of the information and they met with the NTSB and Bell. The information that was required will form part of the report, which is with me for my perusal and then I will authorise the sending to the stakeholders to their comment,” Edghill said.
While a deadline for the completion of the analysis was not provided, Minister Edghill explained that a stakeholder meeting is scheduled following the submission of the report, which will be made public.
“I will need to now signal to the investigator to send that report for all the stakeholders and they have 60 days to offer their comments before the report is released publicly. That is the rule of engagement in keeping with article 13 of the IKU, to ensure that accuracy is reflected. That would include the GCAA, Bell, NTSB and everybody,” the Minister disclosed.
Responding to questions about the whether or not the black box was severely damaged as a result of the helicopter crash, Edghill back in October indicated that reports from NTSB will provide clarity of all speculations circulating in the public sphere.
“I’m saying the black box is with the NTSB and they will tell us finally what information is available and what is not available,” he added.
On December 6, the Bell 412 helicopter, with registration 8R-AYA, left Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Headquarters at Camp Ayanganna at 09:24h, and travelled 144 miles to Olive Creek, where it arrived at 10:27h. After refuelling, the helicopter departed at 10:58h for a 58-mile journey to Arau, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) near Guyana’s border with Venezuela.
Contact was lost with the aircraft, and an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) alert was received about 11:19h.
The GDF had said the chopper was on a command trip to Arau, Macapa, and Eteringbang, as part of Guyana’s response to an “imminent threat to our territory”. The specified helicopter possesses an unladen weight of 3207kg, an internal payload capacity of 2190kg, a maximum total weight of 5398kg, and a cargo hook capability of 2041kg.
The Bell 412 EPI helicopter also had a system designed to warn the pilot of obstacles ahead, enabling them to take evasive measures. However, it has been disclosed by the GDF that only the aircraft’s black box holds the potential to offer insights into this capability.
Lieutenant Crawford and Corporal Jackson were finally extracted from the crash site after two days and multiple thwarted attempts by the search-and-rescue team to rescue them. Adverse weather conditions in the mountains of Region Seven had posed a multitude of challenges for the survivors to be rescued.
Brigadier Beaton was the project engineer; Colonel Shahoud, an Attorney-at-Law, was Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion; Lieutenant Colonel Charles was the pilot; Lieutenant Colonel Welcome was the Commanding Officer of the Reserve Battalion; and Staff Sergeant Khan was from the 31 Special Forces Squadron.
Based on reports, the helicopter suffered significant damage, particularly in the fuselage, with only a few pieces remaining. (G1)